Cast:  Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis

Director: Ryan Coogler

Producer: Kevin Feige

Writer: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole

Genre: Superhero

Duration:134 Mins

Black Panther is the first big black led, A-list superhero movie. Marvel Studios has always kept the ball rolling with genre busting superhero films and this time they really outdo themselves. None other than Creed’s Ryan Cooglar could’ve done the King of Wakanda and the rich Marvel lore of the character justice. War and its consequences were touched upon in Iron Man and Winter Soldier but this movie deals with embracing diversity and race representation. It’s not the first movie and not the last to do it, but Black Panther gets it right.

The movie doesn’t compromise on the usual Marvel action, witty humor and spectacle. But concentrates on giving depth and motivation to each character more so than their previous films. Marvel films have always suffered from a lackluster villain problem but Erik Killmonger, the antagonist in Black Panther, played by the enthusiastic Micheal B. Jordan is close to a perfect villain. His motivations aren’t just taking over the world or creating chaos, the character is haunted with deep anguish and childhood trauma, a tragic villain. T’challa (Boseman) is a good fit for the titular character. He brings royal gravitas to the role. He plays it quite and often selfless. Supporting him is a stellar cast, every actor brought their best game. Danai Guira and Lupita Nyong’o play the head of Wakanda’s special forces and a spy respectively. Both bring the pain to whoever stands in their path. Among the women, Letitia Wright plays T’Challa’s little sister and sarcastic tech wiz was my personal favorite. She’s quite reminiscent of Q from James Bond.

With action going hand in hand with the story, the overall message that it sends is no laughing matter. On one end the movie addresses the issues of race and economic disparity but on the other end it serves wholesome entertainment. T’Challa is haunted by the fact that his own nation is sitting on a mountain of technology that can literally save millions but he also knows that the same technology can be used to cause destruction in the wrong hands. Erik Killmonger, who’s ideology is extremist in nature, thinks that the technology could have been used as a source for up-lifting African American people all around the world who have faced atrocities. Righting the wrongs and turning back colonialism, freeing the oppressed is what he stands for. Neither of the characters are wrong and that’s what makes the movie so compelling. For the first time we get to see Africans and African Americans in non-stereotypical roles in Hollywood. Moreover the smartest and strongest characters in the film are all women.

The hero doesn’t win in the end. The villain changes the hero’s perspective. That’s good storytelling. The influences of Malcolm X and black revolutionary movements, is quite evident given that the movies main theme is

anti-colonialism. Despite the ingrained social messages and grey ideas on race and culture, the movie manages to get you to finish your bowl of popcorn. It’s a deep and enthralling ride and a step in the right direction for Marvel films and a more diverse Hollywood.